Winter Hotiers

[canaaa]

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ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛs

ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴛɪᴇʀs

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With the fall of snows and the longer nights that follow, fashion must also update to accommodate and thrive within the seasons. The Imperial Court hopes to reflect its desire for warmth, goodness, charity, and laughter to win out over the all-too-common coldness and strife this winter season. As this is a time of reflection, let our clothing reflect us too, and show that we are as good and warm in our souls as the Spirit expects and encourages us to be.

Requests for accommodation, as always, can be penned to the Mistress of Hotiers. Dispensation will occur on argued grounds, and a solution agreeable and satisfactory to both the Imperial Court and those who seek it will be found. Please do not hesitate to contact the Mistress of Hotiers if this is necessary for you.

Everything listed on this announcement will be in fashion until the next code's release. Hot fashions may come and go within this time to add new things, but nothing on this announcement will be pulled during the winter season.

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• 《 ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ ғᴀsʜɪᴏɴ 》
  
  • Cool colors are in hot fashion, especially navies, lilacs, and violets. Green is not included as a hot color, but can be worn just the same.
    • The hot colors specifically are included on this color wheel. You may wear colors outside of these, but these are the ones most encouraged.
    • Spoiler: Color Wheel

      
  • Capes and cloaks remain in hot fashion. The general technicalities and guidelines remain unchanged from last season (and are thus included below), but are heavily recommended to be made of fur and pelts during the winter season.
    • These may take the form of cloth wraps, shoulder capes, floor-length capes, or simply to the elbows, as long as they are present. Hoods are allowed, but may only be 'up' during rain or similar weather. To wear a hood 'up' any other time would suggest shame or hiding.
    • Please remember that capes of ermine fur and satin are reserved to those carrying Electoral title only in accordance with Conduces. Any who wear ermine fur and satin specifically without holding such rank will be assumed to be intensely arrogant and self-important and will be asked to discard the cape or otherwise leave the engagement.
      • [ OOC TLDR: Satin capes may be worn, and ermine fur may be worn, but never together unless one specifically holds an Electorate. ]
        
  • Furs and pelts are now hot fashion. Lighter pelt colors are far more fashionable than darker ones, but leeway is given depending on the color makeup of the outfit it pairs with.
    • White Calemberger Fox fur pelts are reserved for those of the Calemberg Code, with no exceptions.
    • Houses Cadieux and de Piedmont, being Ithanian, are specifically barred from wearing furs and/or pelts of any kind. Instead, they may substitute wool, silk, velvet, or any other sort of warm material in accordance with cultural sensibility.
      
  • In conjunction with furs and pelts being hot fashion, furred hats are now in fashion. These carry the same caveats as last season, being that one's hair must be tended underneath, and should match the fur of the coat.
    • Again, Houses Cadieux and de Piedmont are banned from wearing furred hats due to the reason above, but may wear hats in other styles if desired.
      
  • Accessories remain hot fashion. They can be either gold or silver, but you may not wear both: an exception is made for wedding bands, family signets, or otherwise important rings. All other jewelry must match thematically and/or in metal chosen.
    
  • Fans remain fashionable, and remain hot specifically for the Souvereine code. See the Souvereine section for information on fans.
    
  • Modesty is encouraged of all nobility during the winter season. The winter is cold, but does not have to be boring; all nobles are encouraged to accent their particular shapes through the use of well-tailored layers and fabrics. Women may show a respectable amount of either decolletage or their leg, but never both; dresses are encouraged but not required to have longer sleeves. Sleeves may be made of lace if desired, or otherwise abandoned. Stomach should not be shown.
    
  • Women should always aim to have their hair done in some way, shape, or form - half-up half-down, braided, tucked into a bun, or otherwise managed. A woman should never seem as if she had just rolled from bed and into the Court, or else insult both herself and the Court.
    
  • Men should always aim to have facial hair closely cropped and trimmed, save for a mustache. Beards are encouraged but must be well taken care of, with no exceptions. Military-styled cuts are fashionable to indicate support for the Military and its endeavors, but are not a requirement.
    
  • Men's hair must be managed in some way, shape, or form - you may not come to court bedheaded. Men's hair must also not be left 'down' if it reaches past their collarbones, and is required to be tied up or styled in some way. However, having this longer hair showcases that said man is far more fashionable; longer hair is more work to upkeep than shorter hair, and its presentation in court spheres says that the man in question is able to comport himself well and fashionably.
    • His Lordship Reinard is the limit of how long a man's hair must be before he must tie it away. His Lordship has kept the same length of hair for a good year and a half, and there are no current reasons to doubt that he will keep it the same length going forward; thus, the Mistress of Hotiers will be using his hair length as a benchmark. Should this length change to either be longer or shorter than as it is at the time of writing, the rule's reference will change accordingly.
      • [ OOC TLDR: If you're a man, you can have long hair - it's even heavily encouraged. It needs to be tied up if it's longer than Augustin's. ]
        
  • Members of the Marshalry Cabinet and/or Military at large are lauded for their diligent effort and hard work, but they are encouraged to leave that work aside when coming to court. Marshalry uniforms may not be worn at court, unless attending a specifically military-focused event. Instead, those who serve in the military may wear any medals that they have earned over the course of their service while at court, placed over their heart.
    • If one has not won a medal but still wants to express their involvement in the military, they may wear a simple blue ribbon with a golden coat of arms of the Marshalry academy they attended. If one has not attended a Marshalry academy, they may wear the blue ribbon with a blank golden medallion.
    • Members of the Marshalry Cabinet are also encouraged to wear ceremonial arms on their hip, with engraved and otherwise finely decorated scabbards. Those who do not don their arms give the impression that they do not feel a connection to the troops under their command, and would not step up to lead them in person; essentially, that they are not the leaders that their positions require them to be.
      • These arms are never allowed to be drawn in the Imperial Progress or any ambassadorial estate, and should the owners of said ambassadorial estate require, these arms must always be surrendered.
      • [ OOC TLDR: Military uniforms (specifically the ones pinned in military chat channels that are free for anyone's use; personal military-styled outfits are fine) can't be worn except at military functions. You can wear medals instead, and if you're in the military as a commander, you should also carry a decorative weapon of some sort, but don't draw it where you're not supposed to and if someone asks you nicely to give it up, do it. ]
        
  • House Colors are hereby defined to be the specific shades included on a House's cresting or decoration. House Colors may be worn thirty percent of the time, if other colors make up a sufficient seventy percent of the time. Other shades of House Colors, as long as they are clearly different than the specific House Color, are allowed. Black/white are always allowed as accent colors, but cannot be main colors if they are one's House Color unless specifically dressed in either Imperial style, obeying the thirty-percent rule, or in accordance with Conduces during weddings.
    • For example, House Cadieux's colors are cerulean blue and ivy green. Members of House Cadieux may wear non-cerulean shades of blue like navy and sapphire, and non-ivy shades of green like mint and emerald, but cannot wear specific cerulean and/or ivy green clothing outside of the thirty percent allowed.
    • All House Colors, which are subject to the thirty-percent rule:

Spoiler: House Colors

Avalorn; sky blue and warm grey.

de Azcoissia; seafoam and butter gold.

Black; navy and black.

Cadieux; ivy green and cerulean blue.

Delmotte; ruby and gold.

von Drachenburg; forest green and silver.

von Duerr; forest green and black.

Düviri; cyan and white.

Eledhwen; silver and crimson.

Goretaan; garnet and grey.

Harhold; crimson and black.

Ino-Femunn; burgundy and gold.

Kreiburg; forest green and royal purple.

Latimer; scarlet and turquoise.

Mac Conall; burgundy and gold.

di Ortiz; white and black.

Peirgarten; deep magenta and sky blue.

de Piedmont; black and Tyrian purple.

Reinard; ruby and forest green.

Slumberwood; crimson and gold.

Sorenvik; cobalt blue and silver.

du Triege; violet and grey.

Typhonus; forest green and grey.

Viduggla; forest green and brown.

Vyzal; magenta and grey.​

• Servants, Palests, and House Guards brought to events or the Imperial Progress should be dressed in accordance with Hotiers. Servants, Palests, and House Guards may not be dressed in armor at the Imperial Progress or any ambassadorial estate, or excessive House Colors of their escorts, and are expected to adhere either to their choice of the Code of their employer's House or the Core Code as a general rule.
  • [ OOC TLDR: House staff are subject to this too. No armor at the Imperial Progress etc. Staff can either choose to be Core Code in expectation, or dress in Souvereine/Calemberg if the House they work for is one of those codes (listed below). ]

• • Knitted Wintertide sweaters may be worn ten percent of the time, as long as the rest of the outfit is done to match and it is tied into a cohesive look. This only applies until Wintertide. Wintertide sweaters are not fashionable after Wintertide. Tacky sweaters must be worn in estates only to preserve the fashionable identity of the Noble Peerage.
    
  • Couples, either publicly declared or just budding and wishing to be a little more quiet about the object of their affections, but wanting to communicate that someone exists all the same, may do so in a myriad of ways. This must always be done in a mutual relationship; to wear any of these without being in some sort of agreed-upon relationship is seen as incredibly creepy and marks the person as repulsive for claiming to be involved with someone, presumably without their knowledge nor consent.
    • Choker necklaces (which may be lace, velvet, leather cord, or any other sort of material) that include a pendant of the House Crest, sigil animal, or other depiction that is either directly or loosely associated with the object of their affections may be worn. Chokers with no pendant or additional charm do not carry this meaning and are just plain chokers.
    • Pairs of earrings split between two people can either mean affection and a romantic relationship or simply a very, very close friendship. It is not uncommon to see additional piercings to accommodate having many close friends, or many mismatched earrings.
      • Dangling earrings imply a romantic relationship.
      • Stud earrings imply a close friendship.
    • Handkerchiefs and pocket squares set over the heart, or stored in an interior pocket over the heart, carry this meaning only if a handkerchief or pocket square of the same color is present on someone else, either in the same position or tied around one's wrist, or the handkerchief carries embroidery of their beloved's name or initials.
    • Cufflinks, where the pair is split, carry this meaning and are meant as a reminder of the object of one's affections. This is the traditional way to declare affection, and is the source of the term "cuffing", or "cuffing season."
    • Lockets, while not necessarily romantic in nature, are largely associated with romance all the same. Ones that carry engravings of a House Crest, sigil animal, or anything not associated with or belonging to the wearer all point towards romantic connotation, as well as ones that carry images of and writings from the object of one's affections on the interior. These may be worn close to the chest for a bit of privacy, or on the outside of one's clothing as an open invitation for others to see, as well as share their adoration for their loved one. While a locket isn't always a symbol of romance and affection, it is a generally good indicator.
      
• 《 ᴄᴏʀᴇ ғᴀsʜɪᴏɴ 》
  
  • This affects Houses:
    • Kade, Howlester, Black, Goretaan, Harhold, Kreiburg, Latimer, Mac Connall, Peirgarten, Reinard, Slumberwood, Sorenvik, du Triege, Viduggla, Vyzal.
      
  • Men are encouraged to wear neckties of any sort or form; this could be a tie, a bow tie, a cravat, or an ascot, though this listing is not exclusive nor exhaustive. They may additionally pair these neckties with brooches set on top at the center of the 'tie' if desired for an extra bit of flair.
    
  • Women should wear engraved metal belts to cinch their dresses at their waists, or if the outfit doesn't fit this, engraved cuff bracelets. These cuff bracelets should be made from one piece of metal, with a gap set between to allow the noblewoman's wrist through, and may also be jeweled. Belts, however, must not be gemmed to prevent any distraction from the outfit at large, where they are a piece and an accent, rather than the focal point.
    
  • All under Core Code should endeavor to ornament themselves finely; for women, this would be their hair, and for men, this would be their shoulders. Pauldrons layered over warm pelts are fully encouraged for men, or any other sort of accent to draw attention to their shoulders, whereas women should make full use of decorative hairpins, snoods, and floral arrangements made of silk or thin metals. Women who enjoy shorter hair can instead fit this through other jewelry like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more.
    
  • Pocket watches are encouraged for the busy Core Code adherents, who all make ample use of this tool already. The outsides should be engraved in some sort of manner to depict something close to the noble's heart - this may be a family crest, a personal sigil, or some other meaningful image. The chain of the pocket watch may droop from a pocket. Recommended accessories for the Core Code also include those meant to keep one warm; earmuffs and gloves are both highly encouraged, as well as furred hats that are in fashion for all of the nobility (see above).
    
• 《 ᴄᴀʟᴇᴍʙᴇʀɢᴇʀ ғᴀsʜɪᴏɴ 》
  
  • This affects Houses:
    • von Drachenburg, Typhonus. House von Duerr is encouraged to follow this Code as a House of Duerrstein, but is not required to due to being aristocratic.
      
  • Women must be far more modest than their Souvereine and Core counterparts solely for the Winter season, in accordance with cultural sensibility. The only skin allowed to be bared from the collar down is three inches of the forearm, to allow for either the Griffer styling or shorter sleeves.
    
  • Men are encouraged to carry the ceremonial arms expected of the Marshalry, even if they are unaffiliated with it, to showcase their cultural pride and heritage in the military. See the Marshalry paragraph for information, including expectations and conduct rules associated.
    
  • Women are encouraged to wear hat pins on their hats - these should be ornately decorated and bejeweled where available, and made of either silver, gold, or another metal of the woman's choosing.
    
  • All under Calemberg Code are encouraged to incorporate tassels of any sort into their clothing's edges. These should be made of either metal or threading of some sort, and should flow easily when a hand is swept underneath or through them. They may be as thick or as thin as the noble desires.
    
  • Thick leather gloves are encouraged for the Calemberg Code adherents, who all have a history steeped in falconry and a tendency to keep companion birds. These gloves are meant to be worn on one hand solely, not both; the left hand, for any right-handed noble, and the right hand for any left-handed noble. These should be thick, as to be protective, but also decorative in their embossing, designing, or general aesthetic presentation. Birds may perch upon these gloves in social settings, but must be quiet.
    • [ OOC TLDR: Falconry gloves since y'all are all Drahls! Your birds are now accessories, sorry. ]

• 《 sᴏᴜᴠᴇʀᴇɪɴᴇ ғᴀsʜɪᴏɴ 》
  
  • This affects Houses:
    • Avalorn, de Azcoissia, Cadieux, Delmotte, Duviri (by self-election due to aristocracy), Eledhwen, Ino-Femunn, di Ortiz, de Piedmont (by self-election due to aristocracy).
      
  • Silver is not in fashion at all for any Souvereine noble, ever. Alternative metals such as Laqoria and Khazalitra are encouraged instead, as well as brass and bronze. Gold is hot fashion for Souvereine nobility, always.
    
  • Men are encouraged to wear crop tops from Ithanian fashion (either long- or short-sleeved), layered over high-necked shirts (which must be long-sleeved if the crop top layered over has short sleeves). The shirts that sit under should be some sort of neutral color, like black or white, or a darker shade of the crop top layered over. The crop top should be embroidered or otherwise detailed, and minor accents like thin cloth tassels are allowed at the bottom. No stomach should be shown, ever, unless in the privacy of one's home. This look must always be paired with silken gloves, so that none of the arm or hands may be shown. Bracelets must always go outside gloves, but rings may optionally go on top or underneath the silk, as decided by the noble.
    
  • Women are encouraged to work motifs of flight into their clothing and jewelry; this could, for instance, include winged animals of any sort (including the fantastical kind, as well as House sigil animals) or patterns after the skies above, to represent the freedoms they enjoy in modern society.
    
  • All under Souvereine Code are encouraged to wear dangling jewelry especially, in the form of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and far more. (Pairs of dangling earrings do not carry the same connotations as singular dangling earrings, which are mentioned under couplings.) Gems should be put on high display as a way to show wealth, and any who do not wear at least one sort of gem (which may be on any sort of accessory, including rings in addition to the above list) implies that they are too poor to afford any.
    • As usual, gemmed circlets are reserved solely for those of royal lineage. Bare and engraved circlets are allowed for any who do not carry such.

• Scarves and sashes are a particular point of fashion for those of the Souvereine code; silk and cashmere are two fabrics these could be made from, for instance, but any fabric will do. Embroidery of golden thread at the edges is fully encouraged, or elsewise other ways to dress up the fabric. These scarves and sashes may be anywhere in an outfit and serve any sort of purpose. For instance, the following is all allowable: tied around the neck; looped around the waist or hips; draped around the shoulders as a shawl.
  
• Women should carry folding fans, given that they are allowed to gesture with them, and are hot fashion. These fans should be embroidered or painted to show a scene, animal, object, or item of some sort, but cannot depict a House Crest. Additional decorations along the sides of the fan or on the strap are highly encouraged. Fans should be made of wood, ivory, or tortoiseshell and of either silk or fine parchment, and should be hung from a lady's skirt or belt loops when not carried in-hand.
  

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OOC:

Sorry for the wait on this one! I had a lot going on IRL with college, family, and my own mental health. Thanks for waiting! Commendations and callouts will happen later, either as a separate post or integrated into a Court event. Keep an eye out!

As usual, the transition period between the Autumn and Winter Hotiers will be just about two weeks long. Winter Hotiers will take full effect and begin to be enforced December 12 to allow for new commissions and edits.

If you have any questions or you're worried about fitting Hotiers and don't have the OOC means, don't worry! PM me (kendall ♡.･#4323) and we'll get something worked out for you, since I want to make sure as many people are included as possible. I will always work with and accommodate people who are putting in an effort and trying.

Special thanks to @Bunemma, @OkaDoka, @Azas, and @BeetrootSalad for their assistance in coming up with ideas for this season! Without their invaluable help, this would have been a full two full weeks more in the making. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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